The combination of conjugated equine estrogens with bazedoxifene prevents streptozotocin-induced diabetes in female mice

Abstract

The prevention of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced insulin-deficient diabetes in mice is considered a marker of estrogen mimetic activity in β-cells. The effect of the selective estrogen receptor modulator, bazedoxifene (BZA), alone or combined to conjugated equine estrogens (CE) on the prevention of streptozotocin-induced diabetes, is unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of CE (2.5 mg/kg/d), BZA (3 mg/kg/d) and their combinations on the prevention of STZ-induced diabetes. The combination CE/BZA, BZA alone, and CE alone to a lesser extent, all reduced the incidence and severity of STZ-induced diabetes. These findings demonstrate that in female mice, BZA, alone or combined to CE, acts as an estrogen mimetic in preventing STZ-induced diabetes.